Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1999

The 54th Congregation for theConferment of Degrees T he University's 54th congregation for the conferment of degrees was held on 10th December 1998 at the University Mall. The Honourable Tung Chee-hwa, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, officiated at the ceremony as Chancellor of the University. A total of 4,031 degrees were awarded, including 79 doctoral degrees, 838 master's degrees, and 3,108 bachelor's degrees. Among the graduates this year were the first batch of 14 Masters of Public Health. On the occasion honorary doctorates were awarded to six distinguished persons. Prof. N.G.D. Malmqvist, eminent sinologist who served on the selection committe for the Nobel Prize in literature and professor emeritus of Stockholm University, was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature. Prof. Steven Chu, 1997 Nobel laureate in physics and Theodore and Frances Geballe Professor of Physics and Applied Physics at Stanford University, and Prof. Zhang Cunhao, internationally renowned physical chemist and president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, received the honorary degree of Doctor of Science. Dr. Chen Din-hwa, chair of Nan Fung Textiles Consolidated Ltd. and Nan Fung Development L t d . , Mr. Chow Kwen-lim, chairman and president of Chow Sang Sang Holdings International Ltd., and Dr. Fong Yun-wah, chair of Hip Shing Hong Group of Companies and managing director of Kam Wah Investment Company Ltd., were each awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Social Science. Their citations were written and delivered by I Prof. Andrew Parkin and Prof. Serena Jin, the public orators. On the same day, the four constituent colleges, the Part-time Degree Programmes, and the Graduate School also held graduation ceremonies for their students.